If you’re stuck between Vessel and Ghost, buy the Vessel. I’ve tested 16 Vessel bags and 90 golf bags overall, and the Vessel Player VI is the carry bag I’d buy right now. It’s $449, the Pro is $499, and it’s built to still look good two or three years down the road. Ghost is okay. But for most golfers, it’s not the one.
Here’s why Vessel wins, and the one golfer Ghost might make sense for.
Is Vessel Better Than Ghost?
Yes. Vessel wins on structure, storage, the little details you use every hole, and how the bag looks after a few seasons. Vessel bags have always been the good-looking bag, and the Player VI is the best-looking Player they’ve made.
I’ll be straight with you on Ghost. I haven’t put a Ghost bag through a full review on the channel, so I’m not going to pretend I have. What I can tell you is everything I want from a premium bag, and every bit of it is on the Vessel.
Why I’d Buy the Vessel Player VI
The Player is Vessel’s carry bag. It’s the one you see on the range, on the first tee, and in a lot of trunks. There are two versions, the Player VI at $449 and the Player VI Pro at $499.
The biggest change is one you’ll never see. Most golf bags have one stay, the piece inside that holds the bag’s shape. The Player VI has three. I loaded it all the way up and it just stood there. Straight up, no lean, no flop. Three stays mean it holds its shape when it’s loaded, not just when it’s sitting empty on a shelf. That’s what keeps it from sagging to one side after a season.
Then there’s the Axis Lock. If you own a Vessel bag, you know the magnetic rangefinder pocket. Once you use one, you wonder why every golf bag doesn’t have it. But a magnet is a magnet. Catch it on the cart and your $400 rangefinder is in the grass behind you. The Axis Lock locks your rangefinder in place instead of just holding it there. It still comes out in one motion, and it doesn’t come out when you don’t want it to.
Strap, Stand and Carry
The Player VI ships with Vessel’s Equilibrium 2.0 double strap and the Rotator stand, and the legs are carbon fiber. They’re light and they don’t flex. The Player VI is 7.5 pounds and the Pro is just under 8. On paper that’s a little heavier than the Player V. But I’ve carried it, and you’re not even going to notice. If your bag rides a cart or a push cart, you’ll never feel it, and the cart strap pass-through means the strap goes through the bag instead of over your pockets. That’s one of my favorite things Vessel does.
Storage and the Top
Every divider is fully enclosed top to bottom and lined with velour. So your shafts aren’t rubbing, your grips aren’t tangling, and you’re not listening to club chatter the entire walk. Vessel also made the putter well bigger. I’ve got a fat mallet grip, and it sits flush instead of wrestling past the driver. You can get the Player VI in a 6-way or 14-way and the Pro in a 7-way or 14-way. And the base is 10 by 8 and 3/4 inches, the widest in the Player lineup, so your clubs aren’t crowded at the bottom and the stand is steady on ground that isn’t flat.
Both bags have 10 outside pockets, and the Pro adds one inside. You get a full cooler pocket, and the Pro adds two insulated slip pockets next to it. The Pro’s ball pocket is magnetic with no zipper, which you’ll appreciate the first time you grab a ball with a glove on. The apparel pocket is lined with antimicrobial fabric, every zipper is water resistant, and both bags have a hidden pocket built for an AirTag. I dropped an AirTag in there and honestly forgot it was even there.
Want a Vessel Cart Bag Instead?
If you ride every round, go with one of Vessel’s cart bags. My favorite cart bag, period, is the Vessel Lux Pro Cart 2 at $519. It has 31 pockets and a magnetic pod that sits right over the cart strap. The Lux Cart 2 gets you the same top and the same pod for $469, and the Lux Prime gives you the staff bag look on a riding cart for $499. I break all of them down in my best cart bags guide.
Is a Ghost Golf Bag Worth Buying?
No, not for most golfers. Ghost is okay. If you just want a simple bag to carry your clubs, it’ll do the job. But if you’re already spending premium money, spend it on the bag with three stays, the Axis Lock, the AirTag pocket and the velour-lined full-length dividers. That’s the Vessel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bag is better in the rain, Vessel or Ghost?
Vessel. Every zipper on the Player VI is water resistant, and the apparel pocket is lined with antimicrobial fabric, so a wet glove doesn’t make the whole bag smell.
Which golf bag is better for travel?
Vessel. Both Player VI bags have a hidden pocket built for an AirTag, so when your clubs go on a plane, you know where they are. No more taping a tracker inside a pocket and hoping. Vessel also makes its own travel cases, like the Travel Case 2.0.
Can you customize a Vessel golf bag?
Yes. Several Vessel bags have a removable pocket or panel you can send out for embroidery, like the ball pocket on the Pencil bag and the belly pocket on the Lux Prime cart bag.
Is Vessel or Ghost better for walking versus a push cart?
Vessel does both. The Player VI has the Equilibrium 2.0 double strap and the Rotator stand for walking, and the cart strap pass-through for a cart or push cart. If you always ride, get a Vessel cart bag like the Lux Cart 2.
How much does a Vessel golf bag cost?
The Player VI is $449 and the Player VI Pro is $499. Vessel’s Lux cart bags run $469 to $519, and the Pencil bag is $259.
Vessel vs Ghost: My Verdict
Buy the Vessel. The Player VI at $449 is the carry bag I’d buy. Get the Pro at $499 if you want the magnetic ball pocket and the extra insulated pockets, and get the Lux Pro Cart 2 if you ride. Ghost is okay, but it’s not where I’d spend premium money. If you want to see every bag in the lineup, here’s my guide to the best Vessel golf bags.
About the author
Paul Liberatore
Paul Liberatore is the founder of Golfers Authority and a former four-year golf gear contributor to Sports Illustrated. He tests golf equipment hands-on to help golfers make better buying decisions.